*Says, “It is important that we know what we were, what we are now and what we want to be in future.”
By KEMI KASUMU
Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Wednesday, said for the insecurity bedeviling the country to be addressed, Nigerians must resort to dialogue and truth.
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, himself a retired General of the Nigerian Army, spoke as a special guest of honour at a symposium and book presentation to mark the 70th birthday of the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai, in Abuja.
The Sultan said: “Let us keep preaching dialogue and let us not shy away from telling ourselves the truth because as you all know, the truth shall set us free.”
However, Alhaji Abubakar, who for 12 years now has continued to successfully hold responsibilities of religion and royalty in the country, said in spite of what the Nigeria was passing through, there is hope.
He added: “When you talk of peace keeping, General Agwai is somebody who played his role in peace keeping, peace enforcement and peace building in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“It is important that we know what we were, what we are now and what we want to be in future.”
On his part, General Agwai said if Nigerians begin to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, all the current challenges will be history.
His words: “How I wish I have answers to Nigeria’s current problems. But I would say the most important thing is let us all agree that there is a challenge. If people do not agree that there is a challenge; that in itself is a challenge.
“Then we will all put our heads together and say, what is the way forward? And I think the answer to get to that is that all of us must come together, look ahead and try as much as possible to address it.”
Present at the occasion to honour the author and celebrant, Major General Martin-Luther Agwai (Rtd), were the Sultan himself, who was Special Guest of Honour, former Presidential Candidate of National Republican Convention (NRC) in June 12, 1993 presidential election and Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, Prof. Pat Otomi and Provost, Center for Strategic Research and Studies, National Defence College, Abuja, Amb. Chijoke Wigwe, among others.
